Library Instruction

What is library instruction?

UMD Reference
librarians offer library instruction for UMD classes and groups. Library instruction helps students learn to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively and ethically. Librarians can offer support for your classroom instruction in several ways:

In-depth classroom instruction focusing on research strategies and resources for specific assignments

Students will select key terms for searching on an assigned or self-selected research topic

Students will locate and access library materials using the catalog and databases

Students will distinguish between types of sources (academic/scholarly, popular, news) and select appropriate sources for their research needs

Why is library instruction necessary?

Students report that academic research is more difficult to conduct in the digital age, primarily due to information overload.
For most students, getting started on a research assignment is most challenging. Assistance at this stage can help students navigate the entire research process.

Head, A.J. and Eisenberg, M. B. (2009). Finding Context: What Todayʼs College Students Say about Conducting Research in the Digital Age. In Project Information Literacy. Retrieved from http://projectinfolit.org/pdfs/PIL_ProgressReport_2_2009.pdf

How do I request library instruction?

Please complete this form to schedule library instruction. The subject librarian from your department will contact you to confirm your session.